Movie review — MomStart

10 Reasons to See Marvel’s The Avengers

May 1, 2012 By Momstart 44 Comments

The Avengers is surprisingly funny. If it wasn’t a comic, an action movie, an intense ride of entertainment, I would venture at calling it a comedy. Each of these heroes brings wit to the table in the most appropriate places. Simply these are my ten reasons for watching The Avengers Friday May 4 opening night or shortly thereafter.

Iron Man – Tony Stark played by Robert Downy Junior doesn’t play well with others but he’s still a genius. Watch and see if he can learn to work together and think of anyone other than himself in order to save the world from an unbeatable army lead by Loki

Thor – Can an alien work with petty humans with alter egos? I mean he’s a god that controls lightening and has as much strength as The Incredible Hulk plus he’s something special to look at right? Can he fight his brother that he still loves and wishes would come home? How far is he willing to go to save the world he’s supposed to be protecting?

The Black Widow – I’ve never seen a woman so good at interrogation. Taking verbal punches like they hurt her deeply, and they may have affected her but once she got the information she needed she looked like she could care less. Plus she could fight like she had four hands and four legs. Amazing moves, one of the times she bounced off the floor I thought that looked like it hurt.

Hawkeye: I never thought this would happen but he was my favorite character in The Avengers movie. I was rooting for him from the beginning of the movie and loved watching him in action. He’s the Legolas of the Avengers a never misses shot.

The Incredible Hulk in charge of his emotions or always angry you decide but his part to play in this movie needed both him and his alter ego. Together they had to find the enemy and strike them out, but can he work together with others and control the huge green ticking time bomb inside of him? You’ll find out how this green buy works watching The Avengers.

Captain America he’s a leader and he’s honest and a good ole boy in everything he does. He follows the Law and I love that he has such heart and devotion to doing right. But he’s not afraid to challenge someone in the way even when it’s one of the team players.

Maria Hill – she’s absolutely awesome and kicks major but herself. She’s not your average secretary she’s just as much in the action as everyone else. Car chases, perfect shot shooting and keeping Nick Fury almost in-line are her specialties.

Nick Fury – Nick Fury knows exactly what information The Avengers need to know to motivate them to do their jobs. He knew exactly what he was doing from day one even when he was hiding information from them. He’s an evil mastermind working for the right team.

Loki – Tom Hiddleston is quite charming as the bad guy and at times you almost feel bad for his predicament, except for the fact that he just loves to torture people. But, someone has to stand in the way of the heroes or there is no story and Loki does an excellent job pulling you in.

Family – The Avengers struggle to be nice to each other but were open enough to each other to tell each other what they really thought of one another. Sometimes family is so close that we hurt each other like this too, but when something really terrible happens we combine forces to “Avenge” that wrong or hurt.

It was really hard limiting my reasons for seeing the movie to only 10. I could have gone after things like humor, action, edge of your seat, excitement, all reasons come to the same conclusion, The Avengers was an amazing movie that you have to see.

Filed Under: Movie review Tagged With: Captain America, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Loki, Maria Hill, Marvel, movie, Movie review, Nick Fury, The Avengers, The Black Widow, The Increcible Hulk, Thor

Pictures from Closing Night of Tribeca Film Festival With First Responders & Marvel’s The Avengers #theavengersevent

April 30, 2012 By Momstart 29 Comments

Something in the movie Marvel’s The Avengers that you can’t see until Friday was how they actually honored the First Responders of our country in the movie. They were on the scene and they looked heroic while they helped people as The Avengers fought the guys that were impossible for them to defeat. One thing I can show you is how first responders our nations heroes were honored at the Red Carpet event I attended Saturday. During the closing night of the Tribeca Film Festival in New York the First responders had the red carpet treatment. They were given free tickets to the film festival, they were on the carpet with the stars. They were taking their pictures with them and truly honored in a special way. When Robert Downy Junior was introducing the movie he asked all of the first responders and military to stand, then everyone in the room stood to give them a much deserved big warm round of applause. I was honored to be apart of watching everyday heroes having a very special night.

Here is the Pictures from Closing Night of Tribeca Film Festival With First Responders & Marvel’s The Avengers…

Thor: Chris Hemsworth

The Incredible Hulk: Mark Ruffalo

Agent Phil Coulson Clark Gregg

Loki: Tom Hiddleston

Iron Man: Robert Downey Jr.

Maria Hill: Cobie Smulders

Thanks to Disney for the photos, travel and expenses

Filed Under: Movie review Tagged With: Chris Hemsworth, Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders, First Responders, Marvel's The Avengers, movie, Movie review, Robert Downey Jr. Mark Ruffalo, The Avengers, Tom Hiddleston, Tribeca Film

Inside The Hunger Games Movie –More From An Interview With Producer Nina Jacobson

April 6, 2012 By Momstart 20 Comments

By: Ashley

Since opening weekend 3 weeks ago, The Hunger Games has been at the top of the box office. Now it’s the beginning of Easter weekend and some early Friday results show it might stay that way! It is reported that Hunger Games is the highest grossing movie EVER for Lionsgate. That means there are plenty of diehard fans and newcomers to the story wanting to get a peek inside the movie. What better way than reading what Hunger Games producer Nina Jacobson had to say in an interview shortly before the release of the film?

One of the obvious conversations going on about The Hunger Games is over the differences between the movie and the book. As a fan of both, I have to say that I think they did an AMAZING job. In my first interview post from Nina Jacobson, I mentioned a few of the obvious differences (Madge, the stylists), but didn’t really dive into the whole perspective of the movie. The book is told solely from Katniss’s perspective. The movie has the ability to go beyond that… and it’s actually a pretty integral part of making the movie come alive to both those who have read the book and those who haven’t. Jacobson pointed out that the film must show, “why the Hunger Games are such a critical tool in the oppression (of the people).” In the movie, it’s possible to see what’s happening outside the arena. “Katniss doesn’t know why the rules change. (We’re able) to fill in some of the blanks… We get to see the response outside of the games… We see Haymitch’s influence (and) the growing tension in the Districts.” Seeing the “work” being done outside of the games was something I personally enjoyed A LOT in the movie.

When asked for her absolute favorite character or part of the book, Jacobson didn’t take too long to respond with Katniss. It may sound obvious, but her reasoning behind this really gave insight into how many layers Jacobson has peeled back from the story to have a true and complete understanding. “Katniss is a true survivor and protector of her family. She is not civic minded, but (comes) to a point where she can trust others and care for others… She reaches an ethical line she won’t cross. (Katniss) transcends self interest by way of her own ethical choices.”

With such love for the story and the characters, I had to ask Jacobson about the great choices regarding sound and location made in the film. If you’ve seen Hunger Games you’ll know exactly what I mean. There are moments where the sound effects (and lack thereof) really transport you into the action. Jacobson says that, “ Gary (Ross) had clear ideas on this from the beginning… It was important not to overscore the film. We didn’t want to tell the audience how to feel.” Definitely an interesting comment now that reports say Gary Ross won’t be back as director for film number 2, Catching Fire.

Though the director may change (I’m a little sad about that), I’m hoping that the filming location will be just as amazing in Catching Fire as in Hunger Games. Hunger Games supposedly set in Appalachia, and it was filmed deep in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. (Definitely made me proud as a Carolina Girl!) Jacobson said, “We scouted the area and couldn’t believe how perfect it fit.” They used the mountains in Asheville and some of the metropolitan areas of Charlotte. Very cool if you ask me. Makes me wonder what a good fit for Catching Fire would be…

Want To Read More About Hunger Games?

· Inside The Hunger Games Movie: Interview with Producer Nina Jacobson

· Hunger Games HP Folio 13 Special Edition Laptop #GIVEAWAY – Are the Odds in Your Favor?

· The Hunger Games – A Movie That IS As Good As the Book

· The Hunger Games – Is it too violent? (Movie Review and More)

· The Hunger Games – Your Own Personal Capitol Tour

Thanks to Lionsgate for arranging the interview and to Nina Jacobson for her time!

About Ashley: Ashley is a mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, and former teacher working to navigate through the mysterious world of Mommyia. Read more about her adventures at www.Momicles.com

Filed Under: Movie review Tagged With: Haymitch, Interview With Producer Nina Jacobson, Katniss, Lionsgate, Movie review, Nina Jacobson, The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games Movie

Hop Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack inspired Easter Movie Viewing Party

March 30, 2012 By Momstart 4 Comments

Last year for Miles birthday we took him to see the movie Hop

Hop is about the Easter Bunny (E.B.) who as most children are has dreams of doing only what he wants to do and not take over the family business. You see, E. B. lives on Easter island where they make all the Easter candy for children everywhere. Just like Santa Claus makes all the toys for kids and they deliver all the candy in the Easter sleigh.

As E.B. (voiced by Russell Brand) runs away and sets out to live his own dreams, Easter Island is taken over by all the chicks that have felt oppressed for years. The Pink Berets set out to find E.B. to bring him back to save Easter. We enjoyed watching it and seeing the cameos from different actors. E. B. has some fun adventures and you’ll be surprised by the ending. His adventures take place in Hollywood in pursuit of his dream to become a rockstar drummer. There he meets Fred (James Marsden), an out-of-work slacker with his own lofty goals. Together the two encounter a series of hilarious mishaps and misadventures and in the end help each other recognize the importance of family.

This year we had a family movie party and as you can tell my kids had a great time enjoying the movie again as a family. Candy, popcorn and a movie they already love what’s not to like. Oh and we received some HOP storybooks. My kids adore reading and looking at books over and over again. I’m not sure how many times I’ve read these books to my kids and we just received them on Wednesday.

Hop Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack

COMBO PACK EXCLUSIVE FEATURES

    All-New Mini-Movie!
    Digital Copy of Hop (expires 8/27/2012)
    Includes UltraViolet™ (download/redeem by 8/27/2012)
    Carlos on Carlos: The Premiere According to Carlos
    Emotion in Motion: The Dance of Ken Daurio
    Post Coup Commentary: Carlos & Phil Tell All
    Games: E.B.’s Candy Challenge, Drum Along, Pink Beret Skill Tester
    U-Control™ Features: Hop Tweets, Pink Beret Tracker
    pocket BLU™: Remote Control, Keyboard, Mobile-to-Go, Video Timeline
    BD-Live™: Access The BD-Live™ Center Through Your Internet-Connected Player to Get
    Even More Bonus Content, Watch The Latest Trailers, and Share Your Favorite Scenes with Friends!

LIMITED TIME SPECIAL HOP OFFERS

Best Buy – Get a free 7” Bunny Minion Plush when you buy HOP on Blu-ray Combo Pack

Target – Receive free wearable bunny ears & printable Easter party kit when you Buy HOP on Blu-ray Combo Pack

We received a copy of the movie and a gift card in exchange for our review and movie night experience.

Filed Under: Movie review Tagged With: E.B., Easter, Hop, Movie review, viewing party

Behind the Movie Mirror Mirror: Interview with Lily Collins Princess Snow

March 23, 2012 By Momstart 18 Comments

An Interview with Mirror Mirror’s Lily Collins – Just as Perfect in Person

By: Ashley

“Perfect” is such a strong word that can bring up a lot of different feelings, but when I use it to describe Lily Collins… I really can’t think of anything better. She is eloquent, intelligent, kind, genuine, talented, beautiful, and… well… as perfect as any princess that has ever hit the silver screen. I’m sure all of that (and more) is what the makers of the new movie Mirror Mirror saw when they cast her as the legendary Snow White. I was lucky enough to sit down for a roundtable interview with her and some other parent bloggers earlier this month and felt so comfortable speaking with such an impressive young woman.

At only 22 years old, some might think that taking on an iconic role like that of Snow White would be a pretty daunting task. When asked, Lily noted on how the script already established that this was a modernized version of the character we all know. She continued that there “wasn’t as much intimidation of trying to stay true to the original, it was just making sure I was someone that young girls could relate to. I didn’t want to be this caricature of a fairytale princess that was already in cartoon form. I wanted to be someone that young girls could look at and say, ‘She’s a friend of mine.’” Collins attention to her audience didn’t stop there. It seems as though the audience and message of the movie was something extremely important to her. It was fun for Lily to, “go from this young, wide-eyed, innocent girl who is unaware of what’s going on around her… (and) put in this fairytale princess dress. … And then as the story goes on, Snow grows up and becomes more mature and more of a young woman.” This theme of growth and maturity is one the Collins felt very closely connected to. She even said her own experience filming Mirror Mirror was very similar; coming in new and unaware, leaving a film star with even greater experiences.

Meeting Lily Collins was incredible. Her demeanor, he grace, her elegance, all impressive. It’s no surprise that her style icon is Audrey Hepburn. For me, it was so easy to see. I think it is Lily’s natural beauty and old Hollywood class… not to mention the OBVIOUS physical similarities… that says “Audrey” to me. In the movie you also see the similarities in acting. Collins says it best by saying, “I think it’s old time movie stars that have a quality that isn’t as noticeable today because there are so many quick shots in a film. You don’t stay on one person for a long period of time. And with Audrey or Elizabeth Taylor, you stayed on someone’s face to see them go from one emotion to another.” It’s no surprise to hear the Collins prepared for her role as Snow White and, “studied her (Audrey Hepburn) and just the way that she used her body and her posture and her hands. She was very much a princess in her own way… For people to say that they saw that is huge for me, because that was definitely an inspiration.” All of this preparation is obvious when you see the elegance the Lily brings to the role of Snow White in Mirror Mirror.

It’s obvious that Lily was a great fit for the role of Snow. It’s just as obvious that she has her feet on the ground, a good head on her shoulders, and is not afraid to go after what she wants. After waiting until she was around 16 years old, Collins hit the world of Hollywood auditioning for parts. She says that she “took every NO, as a “not right now.” It might be that attitude, along with the support of her mother, that helped get her to where she is today. As far as advice for young girls? Lily says that you should “always appreciate your mom. You need to know that you can always talk to her.” She also notes that it isn’t always going to be easy to work towards your goals, but that’s kind of part of it. “What’s the worst that can happen? You get told ‘no?’… You’re young. You’re supposed to try new things!”

With all that in mind, I hope that you can see what an amazing young woman Lily Collins is. All of her talent and genuine passion for what she does is what brings her character (Yes… HER character) to life in Mirror Mirror. Lily says “Passion is one of the only things that is truly universal.” Make sure you check out her passion for acting… and a GREAT family film by seeing Mirror Mirror on March 30. Visit Mirror Mirror on Facebook

Travel and expenses were covered by Relativity Media for the Press Day.

About Ashley: Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and writes her own blog at Momicles.

Filed Under: Ashley, Movie review Tagged With: Lily Collins, Lily Collins Fan page, Mirror Mirror, movie press page, Movie review, Snow White

Inside The Hunger Games Movie: Interview with Producer Nina Jacobson

March 22, 2012 By Momstart 26 Comments

An Interview with Nina Jacobson – Producer of The Hunger Games Movie

By: Ashley

Fans of The Hunger Games have been waiting and counting down the days until the movie FINALLY makes it to the big screen. I am one of those fans. I fell in love with the books, and I am honestly thrilled with the movie. Getting to interview Nina Jacobson, producer of The Hunger Games, has definitely set this girl on fire! Do you want to know what impressed me most about Ms. Jacobson? It wasn’t that she took time out her surely IMPOSSIBLE schedule to chat with some parent bloggers (though that was VERY cool), it wasn’t that her son was in the room with her (again, just an added “real person” bonus), but she is one of the biggest fans of The Hunger Games out there!

Jacobson’s love of the books is actually what pushed her to make the movie. She read the books when there were only about 100,000 in print. After reading the books, Jacobson says she “couldn’t imagine not making it into a movie.” She knew that she was working with an extremely powerful and ethical book (how she described it), and didn’t want the movie to be done wrong. Over the course of about 3 months, Jacobson talked with Suzanne Collins (author of the book series) and after getting the green light from her, went to Lionsgate. According to Jacobson, Lionsgate wanted to do a “faithful adaptation of the book … and was fully committed from the very beginning.” This all started in 2009, and now, we have a movie!

For those true, die-hard fans of The Hunger Games, you may be worried about what differences there are between the book and the movie. We asked the producer about this. There are 2 big things missing from the movie. First of all, the mockingjay pin comes to Katniss in a very different way. Sadly, Madge is while not in the movie, but it’s a difference that makes sense. Jacobson says, “we needed to build the relationship between Katniss and her sister.” Also, some fans might be disappointed that Katniss’s stylists don’t really come to life in quite the same way. “I love the stylists,” says Jacobson, “but there just wasn’t enough time.” Time was instead spent building the amazing character of Cinna. A trade well worth the sacrifice.

Another concern from many parents is the violence in the story and how that will be portrayed on screen. I’ve even had some parents ask me if the movie will be appropriate for their kid(s). It’s a tough call to make, but when asked about her perspective on the violence in the story (both in the book and the movie). Jacobson says that since the books are recommended for readers ages 12 and up, they have been “very mindful of the fans of the books.” She also notes that when reading, “your imagination really sets the parameters “ for the violence in the books, where as the movie creates the parameters for you. That said, Jacobson was also very aware that they “needed to be true to the gravity of the situation… show how wrong” things were and not tiptoe around it. She worked hard to make sure that the movie did not dilute the level of intensity but also to not “be the capitol” and glorify the violence in any way.

Now for the question lots of fans are asking. Are there sequels planned? The answer to that is yes. The script is currently undergoing some work, but they are really hoping for a November 2013 release for the next movie in The Hunger Games story.

Keep checking MomStart for more on The Hunger Games, more from my interview with Nina Jacobson, and more about a special Hunger Games laptop giveaway!

Thanks to Lionsgate for arranging the interview and to Nina Jacobson for her time!

About Ashley: Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and writes her own blog at Momicles.

Filed Under: Movie review Tagged With: interview, Movie review, Nina Jacobs, producer of the Hunger Games, The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games – A Movie That IS As Good As the Book

March 20, 2012 By Momstart 33 Comments

By: Ashley

The odds were most definitely in my favor as I was able to make it to a press screening of The Hunger Games. As a HUGE fan of the books, and a movie go-er who is often disappointed by books brought to the big screen, I was equally excited and nervous. However, when the movie ended and the credits started to roll, I knew that Lionsgate had truly made a wonderful movie.

The Hunger Games is a movie that fans of the book will love as it accurately brings the story by Suzanne Collins to the screen. Fans will see the scenes that made movies in their minds played out in a larger than life way. As a true fan of the novels, I couldn’t help but compare the two looking for differences, noting what was left out, and noticing the book to movie changes. Did I notice a few differences? Yes. Did they take away from the story, or bother me? NO! The Hunger Games movie did a phenomenal job of staying true to what is an amazing story.

As for movie go-ers that are not already fans of the book, they will leave the theatre completely attached to the characters, contemplating societal and political ideals, and begging to know what comes next in the story. Don’t worry, this movie does a fantastic job telling the complete story, so reading the book is not necessary for watching. (Though I must say, reading the books is something that should be on EVERYONE’S list…) The storyline in The Hunger Games is captivating for tweens, teens, and adults of all ages. Intense action scenes, a well done love story, amazing sound effects, and a star-studded cast are only a few of the things that make The Hunger Games a must see movie. Did you not know that this was a star-studded cast? Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz, and Donald Sutherland are just some of the names that stand out on the cast. Top all of that off with Jennifer Lawrence playing an amazing protagonist, Liam Hemsworth playing her best friend, and Josh Hutcherson as the strong male tribute… you’ve got yourself a MUST SEE MOVIE!

That’s it. This is a MUST SEE MOVIE! So, whether you’re going to wait in line Thursday at midnight, or go early Saturday morning… GO SEE IT! =)

Disclosure – Ashley was able to attend a press screening thanks to Lionsgate (or a representing PR firm) of the film in order to write this review.

About Ashley: Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and writes her own blog at Momicles.

Filed Under: Ashley, Movie review Tagged With: Ashley, Lionsgate, movie, Movie review, The Hunger Games

Mirror Mirror – The Fairest Costumes of Them All! #MirrorMirror

March 19, 2012 By Momstart 15 Comments

By: Ashley

“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest one of all?”

If you answered Snow White, then you must be familiar with this classic fairy tale. However, you have never seen Snow White done like this! Relativity Media is bringing Mirror Mirror to the big screen on March 30. This modern twist of the classic tale is a great movie for the family and will have everyone pulling for the princess, rooting on the dwarves, hissing at the evil queen… and ooing and awing at the breathtaking costumes and amazing sets.

I was able to see the movie at a screening earlier this month. I can honestly say it is a movie I enjoyed watching. I laughed out loud again and again. I was engrossed in the storyline, and loved the adaptations they made. Two of the things that stood out to me the most though in Mirror Mirror were the INCREDIBLE costumes, and surreal sets.

The dark magical forest, just down the road from the castle, was an amazing set. It was so easy to get lost in the action because I wasn’t caught up noticing the blue screen technology inserted into the movie. Don’t get me wrong, I love how much technology has added to movies, but it was so refreshing to watch Mirror Mirror and the real, constructed, sets.

The home of the elves was another set that truly did create another world. The multiple levels, rooms in the background, details in the props… it really felt like as the viewer you were in the home of the 7 dwarves!

Now onto the breathtaking costumes… I don’t even know if I can explain them in any other way. They were simply breathtaking. Whether it was something as the gown the evil Queen was wearing while playing her life-size version of chess, or the coat that Snow wears when she goes outside the castle walls. If you watched the Academy Awards this year, you make have noticed the name Eiko Ishioka included in the In Memoriam. Her designing greatness is what brought these amazing costumes to light.

One of my favorite costumes is the orange and blue gown for Snow White. I love how it plays on the Snow White dress that was made famous by Disney, but takes the dress to a whole new level. GORGEOUS!

Mirror Mirror will be coming to theatres on March 30. It’s a great movie that will be sure to take your breath away.

Visit Mirror Mirror on Facebook

Travel and expenses were covered by Relativity Media for the Press Day.

About Ashley: Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and writes her own blog at Momicles.

Filed Under: Movie review Tagged With: costumes and sets, Mirror Mirror, Movie review, Relativity Media

The Muppets! Wocka Wocka!

March 16, 2012 By Momstart 394 Comments

Miss Piggy and Kermit recently attended the Oscars. Of course Miss Piggy was decked out to the nines. Her jewels were remarkable. They were 1940s amethyst and diamond ring in gold (70.0 carats) remember from an earlier interview lavender is her signature color after all. And she also wore a 1950s diamond and platinum swirl necklace (55 carats) with matching swirl bracelet (40 carats).

“Blu-ray is a great way to bring the Muppets into your home without having to worry about cleaning up after us,” said Kermit the Frog, commenting on the announcement. “And the behind-the-scenes extras are a revealing tell-all look at what it took to bring our movie to the big screen. It’s a must-see for fans of bloopers, flubs and slip-ups – which pretty much describes our act.”

Miss Piggy is equally thrilled at the movie’s Blu-ray release, “Now you can watch moi whenever you want! Ooh! Lucky vous!”

The Wocka Wocka Value Pack, which includes the movie on Blu-ray high-definition, DVD and Digital Copy (3 discs) plus a download card which allows fans to own all the songs from the film’s hugely popular soundtrack from Walt Disney Records.

Film Synopsis

On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, his brother Gary (Jason Segel) and Gary’s girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams), from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze Muppet Studios and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets’ former stomping grounds. To stage a telethon and raise the $10 million needed to save the studio, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have allgone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate.

Disney’s “The Muppets” is directed by James Bobin (“Flight of the Conchords,” “The Ali G Show”) and produced by the Academy Award^®-nominated team of David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman (“The Fighter,” “The Proposal”) with a screenplay written by Segel & Nicholas Stoller (“Get Him to the Greek”), who also serve as executive producers along with John G. Scotti and “The Muppet Show” veteran Martin G. Baker. Bret McKenzie, who created, co-wrote, executive-produced and starred in the hit HBO television series “Flight of the Conchords,” is the music supervisor as well as the writer/producer of three original songs. Original score is by Christophe Beck, Michael Rooney is the choreographer, Rahel Afiley is the costume designer, and James Thomas is the editor. SteveSaklad is the production designer, and Don Burgess, A.S.C., is the director of photography.

Film Features:

Additional fun-filled features on Disney’s “The Muppets” Blu-ray include a groundbreaking industry first — ‘Disney Intermission,’ a hilarious all-new feature that allows viewers to press Pause on their remote control and watch as the Muppets take over the screen and entertain until the movie resumes playing. The release also includes “Explaining Evil: The Full Tex Richman Song,” an extended version of the rollicking rap song by villain Tex Richman (Academy Award® winner Chris Cooper) who provides the hilarious backstory of why he hates the Muppets. Audio commentaries with screenwriter and star Jason Segel, director James Bobin and screenwriter Nicholas Stoller are also included.

With the Muppet’s signature irreverent comedy, songs and dancing, Muppet fans of all ages will cheer as the gang reunites to put on a benefit show to save the crumbling Muppet Studios from being razed by nefarious oil baron Tex Richman. New fans and long-time devotees will find the rainbow connection when they bring Disney’s “The Muppets” into their very own homes.

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Denise M.

We received samples for this review. All rules can be found under giveaway rules

Filed Under: giveaway, Movie review Tagged With: Miss Piggy, Movie review, The Muppets

The Muppets Wocka Wocka Value Pack On Blu-ray Saved My Job

March 11, 2012 By Momstart 3 Comments

I haven’t accepted a home movie review for a few months, I’ve been passing them off to contributors. It’s not that all the sudden I don’t like movies, I still ADORE watching movies. I just haven’t had any time to watch any movies. When the offer to review The Muppets Wocka Wocka Value Pack came up, I just felt like I had to accept it. We took our kids to see The Muppets in the theater and they liked it. I think I’m raising two movie addicts to follow in my footsteps. As soon as it came in the door they wanted to watch it, but I was saving it for a rainy day. The Wocka Wocka Value Pack, which includes the movie on Blu-ray high-definition, DVD and Digital Copy (3 discs) plus a download card which allows fans to own all the songs from the film’s hugely popular soundtrack from Walt Disney Records.

On Wednesday of last week a job came up for me. A very good job and Andrew had to work really really late that night, so I was left with two kids, and needed something to occupy their time with. The Muppets! The Muppets came to my rescue. I told both kids that I had to work and that I’d be on the phone upstairs. I put on the Muppets and not a sound came from them until the very end of the movie. They still loved it. Want to hear another benefit to letting the kids watch The Muppets. I get to hear Zoe singing, “Life’s a Happy Song”. I love hearing her sing and seeing her smile when she’s happy.

I still haven’t had a chance to sit down and watch The Muppets with them. My husband watched it the other night with the kids while I was baby sitting and he said that it has a really cool feature. When you hit pause, it goes into intermission. He had to stop the movie because someone came to the door and he thought the kids restarted it on their own, which would have been fine, but they didn’t. It was just The Muppets entertaining you with some silly intermission scenes.

The Muppets “Feel the Hunger”….